Institute of Endocrinology

On 02 April 1991, the Lithuanian Scientific Endocrinology Centre was established under the Order signed by J. Olekas, the Minister of Health of the Republic of Lithuania.

On 29 January 1992, the Lithuanian Scientific Endocrinology Centre was established and integrated into the structure of the Kaunas Medical Academy under the name of the Institute of Endocrinology. It was the first state institute in Lithuania to voluntarily join the university structure.

The most important goal of the Institute of Endocrinology was to “comprehensively study the normal and disturbed activity of internal secretion glands, hormones and other metabolic regulating substances and systems, their working principles and mechanisms that ensure human reproduction, birth, development, the ability to adapt to the environment and a full-fledged life”.

The scientific, pedagogical and practical activities of the Institute of Endocrinology were closely related to the Endocrinology Clinic of KMU (Kaunas Medical University) and other domestic and foreign scientific and clinical practice institutions.

On 09 July 1994, the Republican Centre of Endocrinology was established and headed by its Director Prof. Liudvikas Lašas.

On 11 June 2003, the Government of the Republic of Lithuania approved the new status of the KMU Institute of Endocrinology, according to which the Institute became a state scientific research institution.

The scientific and clinical works carried out at the Institute were published in reputable Lithuanian and foreign scientific publications and presented at national scientific-practical and international conferences. Seminars and lectures were held at Lithuania’s medical institutions.

Heads of the LSMU Institute of Endocrinology:

·      Prof. Habil. Dr. Jurgis Danys 1978 – 1991

·      Prof. Habil. Dr. Liudvikas Lašas 1991 – 2004

·      Prof. Habil. Dr. Antanas Norkus 2004 – 2011

·      Prof. Dr. Rasa Verkauskienė 2011 – present

• 1992 – collection of articles “Lithuanian Endocrinology 91” (Lith. Lietuvos endokrinologija)
• 1994 to 1997 – periodical annual collections of articles “Lithuanian Diabetology” (Lith. Lietuvos diabetologija), in 1998 renamed to and still published under the title “Lithuanian Endocrinology” (Lith. Lietuvos endokrinologija)
• 2005 – international scientific and practical journal of the Baltic countries “Baltic Endocrinology” launched.
• 2005 – “Lithuanian Endocrinology” (Lith. Lietuvos endokrinologija) and “Baltic Endocrinology” included in the international “Index Copernicus” database
• 2006 – “The Origins and Development of Lithuanian Endocrinology. What is what”
• Editorial work and co-authorship of the staff of the Institute of Endocrinology in the articles for scientific publications and popular publications, such as the magazine “Diabetes Panorama” (Lith. Diabeto panorama) and the newspaper “Diabetes” (Lith. Diabetas)
• 2013 – “Practical Guide to Endocrinology” (Lith. Endokrinologijos praktinis vadovas)
• 2014 – “Diabetic Neuropathy” (Lith. Diabetinė neuropatija)
• 2016 – textbook “Diabetic Neuropathy” (Lith. Diabetinė neuropatija)
• 2017 – textbook “Practical Guide to Endocrinology” (Lith. Endokrinologijos praktinis vadovas)
• 2018 – textbook “Diabetic nephropathy” (Lith. Diabetinė nefropatija)
• 2019 – textbook “Algorithms for the diagnosis and treatment of endocrine diseases” (Lith. Endokrininių ligų diagnostikos ir gydymo algoritmai)
• 2020 – monograph “Diabetes and cardiovascular risk” (Lith. Diabetas ir kardiovaskulinė rizika)